TFNJ: The Florida News Journal - Sportshttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com
enCollege Football Star Comes Out As Gay Ahead Of NFL Drafthttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/02/10/college-football-star-comes-out-gay-ahead-nfl-draft
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/Michael-Sam-Potentially-NFL-First-Gay-Player-TFNJ.jpg?itok=9Ufhtrdv" width="420" height="280" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>The National Football League could have its first openly gay player as University of Missouri graduate Michael Sam comes out as gay, three months before going into the NFL draft.</p>
<p>Sam was interviewed by ESPN, The New York Times, and Outsports which was released on Sunday. Sam said that he came out to his coaches and teammates in August and decided to come out now on his own terms before it became an issue as recruiters interview him. </p>
<p>In discussing the magnitude of his announcement, Sam said, “I understand how big this is. It's a big deal. No one has done this before. And it's kind of a nervous process, but I know what I want to be ... I want to be a football player in the NFL."</p>
<p>Sam said that recieved support from his teammates </p>
<p>The 6-foot-tall, 255-pound defensive-end lead the Southeastern Conference in sacks and tackles. Sam was named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year for 2013.</p>
<p>Sam will participate in the NFL combine later this month in Indianapolis and is currently projected to be a mid-round draft pick in May.</p>
<p>If signed to a NFL contract Sam will be the first openly gay active football player and one of a few openly gay athletes in professional sports.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/nfl" title="NFL">NFL</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/university-missouri" title="University of Missouri">University of Missouri</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/gay" title="Gay">Gay</a></li>
<li class="5"><a href="/keyword/lgtb" title="LGTB">LGTB</a></li>
<li class="6 last"><a href="/keyword/football" title="football">football</a></li>
</ul>Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:17:15 +0000Mikell26346 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comAlex Rodriguez Suspended For Entire 2014 Seasonhttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/alex-rodriguez-suspended-entire-2014-season
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/Alex-Rodriguez-Suspended-TFNJ.jpg?itok=ECb8uQXz" width="506" height="337" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>New York Yankee’s third baseman and three-time American League MVP Alex Rodriguez has lost his appeal with MLB and will be suspended for the entire 2014 because of doping.</p>
<p>Rodriguez had been given 211 game penalty by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig on Aug 5 after an investigation into a Florida drug clinic, Biogenesis. The investigation found the clinic gave players including Rodriguez banned performance-enhancing drugs.</p>
<p>Rodriguez denied the allegations of doping and appealed the suspension. The Yankee’s star even sued MLB along with Commissioner Selig accusing them of trying to destroy his reputation and career.</p>
<p>MLB arbitrator Fredric Horowitz heard the appeal and on Saturday released his ruling. Horotwitz upheld the original suspension but decreased the penalty from 211 to 162 games. </p>
<p>In a statement released on his Facebook page Rodriguez said, “The number of games sadly comes as no surprise, as the deck has been stacked against me from day one. This is one man’s decision, that was not put before a fair and impartial jury, does not involve me having failed a single drug test, is at odds with the facts and is inconsistent with the terms of the Joint Drug Agreement and the Basic Agreement, and relies on testimony and documents that would never have been allowed in any court in the United States because they are false and wholly unreliable. This injustice is MLB’s first step toward abolishing guaranteed contracts in the 2016 bargaining round, instituting lifetime bans for single violations of drug policy, and further insulating its corrupt investigative program from any variety defense by accused players, or any variety of objective review.”</p>
<p>The suspension is expected to cost Rodriguez $25 million of his $85 million contract.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/new-york-yankees" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/doping" title="Doping">Doping</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/performance-enhancing-drugs" title="Performance enhancing drugs">Performance enhancing drugs</a></li>
<li class="5 last"><a href="/keyword/alex-rodriguez" title="Alex Rodriguez">Alex Rodriguez</a></li>
</ul>Sun, 12 Jan 2014 14:06:43 +0000News Desk 326168 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comDennis Rodman Announces "Basketball Diplomacy" For Upcoming Games In North Koreahttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/dennis-rodman-announces-basketball-diplomacy-upcoming-games-north-korea
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/Dennis-Rodman-with-Kim-Jong-Un-in-North-Korea-basketball-diplomacy.jpg?itok=DF4f-XT_" width="460" height="276" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman has announced the names of who will join the U.S. team to compete against North Korea's senior national team on January 8th. Among those on the list are Kenny Anderson, Cliff Robinson and Vin Baker, all former NBA players, plus basketball stars Craig Hodges, Doug Christie and Charles D. Smith.</p>
<p>Rodman has been shuttling back and forth between North Korea for a couple years in what some have characterized as "back channel diplomacy" and "overt but content secret missions for the CIA" or passing high level communications between Obama and Kim Jong Un, the current dictator of North Korea.</p>
<p>Ask whether the trip is still a go due to Kim's uncle recently being executed, Rodman only said his trip would not be affected.</p>
<p>The exhibition game is being staged for Kim Jong Un's birthday.</p>
<p>North Korea and the U.S. continue to be at odds with each other over North Korea's nuclear program and missile program plus its human rights violations.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/north-korea" title="North Korea">North Korea</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/dennis-rodman" title="Dennis Rodman">Dennis Rodman</a></li>
<li class="4 last"><a href="/keyword/basketball" title="Basketball">Basketball</a></li>
</ul>Mon, 06 Jan 2014 05:28:02 +0000News Desk 226132 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comCapital One Bowl Filling Up With Fans As Clouds And Light Rain Arrivehttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/capital-one-bowl-filling-fans-clouds-and-light-rain-arrive
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/CapitalOne-BCS-Bowl-Citrus-bowl-WISCONSIN-VS-SOUTHCAROLINA-in-Orlando-Jan-1-2014-TFNJ-thefloridanewsjournal-a2.jpg?itok=ht-YrcJ-" width="506" height="356" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Orlando, Fla.</p>
<p>The Citrus bowl is starting fill fill up with guests for the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the South Carolina Gamecocks as light rains and clouds settle in over the stadium at 64 degrees. Kickoff is at 1pm. </p>
<p>Parking near the Citrus Bowl is sold out and guests will have to park at nearby satellite locations and either walk to ride a shuttle bus.</p>
<p>The Gamecocks are 10-2 for the season and the Badgers are 9-3.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/florida-local" title="Florida Local">Florida Local</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/wisconsin-badgers" title="Wisconsin Badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/south-carolina-gamecocks" title="South Carolina Gamecocks">South Carolina Gamecocks</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/football" title="football">football</a></li>
<li class="5"><a href="/keyword/citrus-bowl" title="Citrus Bowl">Citrus Bowl</a></li>
<li class="6"><a href="/keyword/capitalone-bowl" title="CapitalOne Bowl">CapitalOne Bowl</a></li>
<li class="7 last"><a href="/keyword/bcs" title="BCS">BCS</a></li>
</ul>Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:07:56 +0000News Desk 226107 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comHadiah The Tiger Picks UCF Over Baylor To Win Fiesta Bowlhttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/hadiah-tiger-picks-ucf-over-baylor-win-fiesta-bowl
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/Hadiah-the-tiger-picks-UCF-over-Baylor-Fiesta-Bowl.jpg?itok=LoIKQ7Ic" width="496" height="436" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Hadiah the tiger has successfully predicted three bowl game champs in a row and yesterday predicted UCF will beat Baylow at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona on New Years Day, 2014.</p>
<p>The tiger lives at the Phoenix Zoo and have been putting beef inside boxes with the logo of the teams competing in various BCS bowl games for several years now and now Hadiah picked Orlando, and did so without hesitation, going directly to the UCF box.</p>
<p>Last week Hadiah correctly picked Kansas State would beat Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/fiesta-bowl" title="Fiesta Bowl">Fiesta Bowl</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/bcs-bowl" title="BCS Bowl">BCS Bowl</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/football" title="football">football</a></li>
<li class="5"><a href="/keyword/phoenix" title="Phoenix">Phoenix</a></li>
<li class="6"><a href="/keyword/wildlife" title="Wildlife">Wildlife</a></li>
<li class="7 last"><a href="/keyword/tiger" title="Tiger">Tiger</a></li>
</ul>Tue, 31 Dec 2013 22:36:29 +0000News Desk 226103 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comWorld Cup: U.S. In Group G And Will Play Ghana, Portugal, Germany In 1st Roundhttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/world-cup-us-group-g-and-will-play-ghana-portugal-germany-1st-round
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/FIFA-Secretary-General-Jerome-Valcke-TFNJ-the-florida-news-journal-image-201357y5897t.jpg?itok=7eNoCDPw" width="420" height="265" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>In the upcoming World Cup being held in Brazil in 2014, the U.S. will be in group G and has draw Ghana, Portugal and Germany to play against in the first round. The U.S. will kick off the start of their games in Natal against Ghana on June 16, 2014. Ghana twice eliminated the U.S., in the 2006 and 2010 tournaments, making for a tough first round for the U.S.</p>
<p>On June 22 the U.S. will play Portugal in the Brazilian rain first city of Manaus with the Portuguese having the 2008 FIFA player of the year, Cristian Ronaldo.</p>
<p>The U.S. is ranked 14th, and have made the last seven consecutive World Cups.</p>
<p>Former U.S. coach Bruce Arena said in remarks that it will be a difficult struggle for the U.S. to make it to the second round.</p>
<p>[Image: FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke Draws the name USA in match-up]</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/world-cup" title="World Cup">World Cup</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/mls-soccer" title="MLS Soccer">MLS Soccer</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/fifa" title="FIFA">FIFA</a></li>
<li class="5 last"><a href="/keyword/brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></li>
</ul>Fri, 06 Dec 2013 19:15:18 +0000News Desk 226000 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comNational Football League Settles Lawsuit For $765 Millionshttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/national-football-league-settles-lawsuit-765-millions
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>The National Football League has reached a settlement in a lawsuit accusing the league of hiding the dangers of concussions. $765 millions dollars will be split among the 4,500 former football players who joined the suit. </p>
<p>The suit filled alleges that the league was aware of the dangers from head impacts in the contact sport and hid the results. Later in life many of the players were developing neurological conditions that were believed to be from continuous impacts to the head. </p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/keyword/nfl" title="NFL">NFL</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/national-football-league" title="National Football League">National Football League</a></li>
<li class="3 last"><a href="/keyword/football" title="football">football</a></li>
</ul>Sat, 31 Aug 2013 14:35:35 +0000News Desk 325659 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com12 Major And Minor Baseball League Players Suspended In Doping Scandalhttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/12-major-and-minor-baseball-league-players-suspended-doping-scandal
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/Major-League-Baseball_MLB-Sspensions.jpg?itok=Q2TqrYew" width="506" height="506" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Nelson Cruz of the Texas Rangers and Jhonny Peralta of the Detroit Tigers, along with 10 other major league and some minor league baseball players have been suspended for 50 games as a result of the doping scandal and subsequent MLB investigation.</p>
<p>Alex Rodriguez is also expected to be suspended in an announcement later today, but Rodriguez's agent has indicated the player will appeal the decision, allowing him to play at least tonight, in his season debut in Chicago, and a few more games. Rodriguez plays third base for the New York Yankees.</p>
<p>Other notable players suspended include Philadelphia Phillies reliever Antonio Bastardo, New York Mets outfielder Jordany Valdespin, Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, Seattle Mariners minor league catcher Jesus Montero, Mets minor league outfielder Cesar Puello, San Diego Padres minor league pitcher Fautino De Los Santos, Houston Astros minor league pitcher Sergio Escalona, Yankees minor league outfielder Fernando Martinez and free-agent pitcher Jordan Norberto.</p>
<p>Cruz has stated that he will not appeal the decision, instead accepting it. Cruz's tacit admission of banned steroid use is seen by many in the sports world as de facto proof Alex Rodriguez also also guilty.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/major-league-baseball" title="Major League Baseball">Major League Baseball</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/mlb" title="MLB">MLB</a></li>
<li class="4"><a href="/keyword/baseball" title="Baseball">Baseball</a></li>
<li class="5"><a href="/keyword/steroid" title="Steroid">Steroid</a></li>
<li class="6"><a href="/keyword/doping" title="Doping">Doping</a></li>
<li class="7 last"><a href="/keyword/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
</ul>Mon, 05 Aug 2013 18:08:02 +0000News Desk 225587 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comBaseball All Star Alex Rodriguez Faces Possible Lifetime Banhttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/baseball-all-star-alex-rodriguez-faces-possible-lifetime-ban
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>Major League Baseball is preparing to release the names of the players being suspended for involvement in a performance enhancing drug scandal. The biggest player to be affected is New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. </p>
<p>Rodriguez could face a lifetime suspension for violating the "integrity of the game policy". Rodriguez did confirm use of performance enhancing drugs when he was with the Texas Rangers during the 2001-2003 seasons but never after that. </p>
<p>A lawyer representing Rodriguez who is the highest paid player in baseball said he would challenge any suspension. </p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/keyword/alex-rodriguez" title="Alex Rodriguez">Alex Rodriguez</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/new-york-yankees" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees</a></li>
<li class="3"><a href="/keyword/mlb" title="MLB">MLB</a></li>
<li class="4 last"><a href="/keyword/baseball" title="Baseball">Baseball</a></li>
</ul>Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:53:17 +0000News Desk 225577 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.comLondon Marathon kicks Off With Moment Of Silence For Boston And Black Ribbonshttp://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/2014/01/14/london-marathon-kicks-moment-silence-boston-and-black-ribbons
<div class="field field--name-field-article--image field--type-image field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><img src="http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com/sites/theflnews.com/files/styles/large/public/London-Marathon-honors-Boston.jpg?itok=gNK3lx_k" width="506" height="380" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden"><div class="field__items"><div class="field__item even"><p>London, U.K. -</p>
<p>The London Marathon kicked off its annual race with a 30-second moment of silence and many runners and spectators wearing black ribbons to honor those killed and injured in the Boston Marathon bombing.</p>
<p>The London Marathon is the first in the annual series of major races around the world and drew 36,000 runners and about 200,000 spectators along the 26 mile route which starts in Greenwich, crosses Tower Bridge, snakes through the Canary Wharf business district before heading to Big Ben and finally Buckingham Palace.</p>
<p>Police presence was increased by 40% according to Scotland Yard, and dog sniffing K-9's swept much of the route and areas of large crowds before the race started. Police removed dumpsters and other bins, boxes and places where things could be hidden along the route.</p>
<p>Before the start of the men's elite and mass races, official commentator Geoff Wightman led the crowd in a tribute to Boston.</p>
<p>"This week the world marathon family was shocked and saddened by the events at the Boston Marathon," he said over loudspeakers.</p>
<p>"In a few moments a whistle will sound and we will join together in silence to remember our friends and colleagues for whom a day of joy turned into a day of sadness."</p>
<p>The packed ranks of competitors bowed their heads and stood silently for 30 seconds, then clapped and cheered when a second whistle marked the end of the tribute.</p></div></div></div><ul class="links links--inline"><li class="0 first"><a href="/section/headlines" title="Headlines">Headlines</a></li>
<li class="1"><a href="/section/sports" title="Sports">Sports</a></li>
<li class="2"><a href="/keyword/london" title="London">London</a></li>
<li class="3 last"><a href="/keyword/marathon" title="Marathon">Marathon</a></li>
</ul>Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:46:11 +0000News Desk 225246 at http://www.thefloridanewsjournal.com